D&AD - Secret 7”

For this years Secret 7” brief, I responded to the track ‘Warsong’ by The Cure. Unlike some of the more overtly political tracks on the list, Warsong offers lyrics that are abstract and open to interpretation. I wanted my design to reflect that same ambiguity, allowing space for personal reflection rather than enforcing a fixed narrative.

Drawing from the themes I interpreted— particularly the sense of vulnerable individuals being backed into a corner by the pressures of conflict and displacement— I created a visual that evokes tension and fragility.

The sleeve was developed through a combination of screen printing and digital techniques, blending texture and layering to reflect both the chaos and quiet resilience present in war-torn environments. My intention was to evoke emotion without dictating meaning, aligning with the open ended nature of both the song and the broader themes of the project.